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DIY Slightly Spooky Halloween Pumpkins

September 18, 2019 by girlinspired Leave a Comment

Take a Closer Look! Craft these DIY slightly spooky Halloween pumpkins!

It’s TIIIIIIMMMEEEE!!!  Time to bust open the storage unit and start hauling out the Halloween decorations.  My favorite time of year to craft and decorate. Remember my Halloween Murder Mystery Party and my Witch Dinner Party? Yes, I love Halloween.  I started opening the bins and with an inspiring little trip to all the craft stores, found myself drawn to a different color scheme for my family room Halloween decor this year – PINK! What?  I didn’t even know it was going to happen until it did.  I brought home some cute little pink craft pumpkins, made myself a pumpkin spice latte, and fell down the crafting rabbit hole.  Now – if pink for Halloween isn’t your thing – you can use absolutely any color scheme and incorporate these same techniques.  No matter what you use you’re going to end up with the cutest DIY slightly spooky Halloween pumpkins this world has ever seen. Not only that, but if you’re not really up for changing out your decor completely as Thanksgiving rolls around, I’ll show you how to tweak these just a tad for some beautiful DIY Thanksgiving pumpkins.  LOL. Ready to get crafting?

Supplies for slightly spooky Halloween pumpkin craft

Alrighty, let’s gather our supplies. I’ve included links (some affiliate) to the supplies I used for easy shopping.  You will need:

craft pumpkin
Antique wax and Dust of Ages
stippling brush and/or coarse paintbrush
spanish moss
faux roses or florals
miniature skeleton garland
Halloween picks – eyeballs, skulls, witch legs, whatever you’d like
pinecones or other bits you can collect on your morning Autumn stroll
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Let’s begin! This is totally optional, but the fake craft pumpkins are a little too shiny and plastic-y for my visual taste of authenticity (and yes, I do realize the irony in my need for authenticity in these fake pumpkins that are, in fact, pink) Nevemind that, I wanted to grunge the plastic up a bit.  I grabbed my Antique Wax and Dust of Ages powder and it was the perfect touch.

Use Antiqueing wax and dust of ages to give plastic craft pumpkins a weathered look

So easy to use, dip the tip of a stippling brush into the wax and then just smudge it around, working it into the cracks and crevices. Don’t forget that plastic stem! Stipple until your pumpkin is antiqued to your liking.

Use Antiqueing wax and dust of ages to give plastic craft pumpkins a weathered look

Now, we’re going to give it an even more aged, matte look with the Dust of Ages.  You can sprinkle a little on or just dip a fresh stippling brush into the pot.

Use Antiqueing wax and dust of ages to give plastic craft pumpkins a weathered look

And …. dust.  Spread the dust around, allowing it to settle into the cracks and crevices that you waxed so well.  Smudge until you have a nice finish.  Wipe the excess dust back into the container.

Use Spanish moss for the foundation for Halloween pumpkin crafts

Okay, let’s start building the toppings! Start with a bed of Spanish moss.  This gives it a real nice Fall base, but also lends itself well to a creepy vibe. Arrange the moss around the stem – enough that it will show under the rest of the toppings.

Crafting Halloween Pumpkins

Lift the moss here and there and secure to the top of the pumpkin with hot glue.  Not too much – you don’t want the moss to be flat and you don’t want the glue to show through the moss. Visible glue? Not authentic.

Crafting Halloween pumpkins with florals and spooks!

Next, we need some additional fluffery – choose whatever faux (or real dried) florals you like.  I love the very harvest-time look of this sprig.  Use floral wire snips to make the most of one larger floral spray and add bits here and there.  Secure at the base of the stem with hot glue.

Use non-traditional floral colors for a unique Halloween pumpkin craft!

Let’s start adding the florals.  If you have roses on a wire stem, cut the stem to a few inches in length and press it right into the top of the pumpkin, planning to space an odd number of large focal florals on the top (this size pumpkin lended itself to three main flowers, a large pumpkin might need 5 or 7, etc.)

Use non-traditional floral colors for a unique Halloween pumpkin craft!

These wire stemmed roses worked nice to be able to bend/maneuver the direction that the rose faced once it was poked into the pumpkin.  If you’e using just the flower head of a floral arrangement, you’ll need to hot glue the flower in place.  Try to spread the moss and other toppings slightly so you can get the glue into direct contact with the pumpkin.

Use non-traditional floral colors for a unique Halloween pumpkin craft!

Okay, here we go.  I have three main flowers here and IF I was going for a Pretty Pumpkin or a Thanksgiving pumpkin or an Autumn pumpkin, I’d glue this big peony on right here.  But friends, I’m going for a slightly spooky pumpkin, so….

Use non-traditional floral colors (and holiday picks!) for a unique Halloween pumpkin craft!

I swapped the big peony for an eyeball pick.  LOL.  Isn’t it fantastic?  The craft stores has ALL kinds of picks for alllll the holidays and I’m obsessed.  Use whatever you like! I am loving this eyeball.

Use non-traditional floral colors for a unique Halloween pumpkin craft!

Once you have your main toppers in place, it’s time for some filler! Use mini pinecones, seed pods, leaves, whatever you like.  I used some snippings from a couple other floral picks as well as these flower-shaped pinecones we collected on a neighborhood walk last Fall. Hot glue them in to create a full, balanced pumpkin topper.

You didn’t think I was going to spook out this pumpkin with JUST an eyeball, did you? No way.  I have a whole bunch of these little miniature skeletons that come as a garland.  I load them up into apothecary jars for decor and I also have a bag of broken bits and pieces…..PERFECT for pumpkin toppings! And if yours aren’t already broken, they snap apart with very little effort.

Dab a blob of hot glue onto a severed limb and wiggle it down into your floral arrangement.

Take a Closer Look! Craft these DIY slightly spooky Halloween pumpkins!

Perfection!!!!

Take a Closer Look! Craft these DIY slightly spooky Halloween pumpkins!

Take a Closer Look! Craft these DIY slightly spooky Halloween pumpkins!

Take a Closer Look! Craft these DIY slightly spooky Halloween pumpkins!

Take a Closer Look! Craft these DIY slightly spooky Halloween pumpkins!

Take a Closer Look! Craft these DIY slightly spooky Halloween pumpkins!

So how’s that for making a DIY slightly spooky Halloween pumpkin to put on your mantle?  SO FUN!!  I’m obsessed.  Would love to see yours if you make one! Tag me on Instagram or Facebook….or in the comments.  Need more Halloween crafting fun?  Definitely make a Dia de los Muertos wreath, consider this Shriek to Chic Halloween Party Decor and check out some of these other amazing Halloween ideas! Happy Halloween crafting!!!

Need a festive Fall treat to snack on while you’re crafting up a storm?  Try our favorite pumpkin cinnamon rolls or these sinful gingerbread pumpkin ice cream sandwiches!

Filed Under: Crafting, DESIGN, Halloween, Holiday Inspiration, Home Decorating Tagged With: Fall decor, Halloween, halloween decor, halloween pumpkins, home decor, pumpkin crafts, pumpkins

Halloween Dinner Party and House Decor

October 31, 2017 by girlinspired 1 Comment

*This post contains affiliate links.Halloween Dinner Party and House DecorIt’s my favorite time of the year!  When the air turns cool and crisp and we spend more time readying our homes to entertain holiday guests and gather by toasty fires and snuggle under warm layers.  Decorating for Halloween, in particular, has stolen my heart over the last few year.  I just can’t get enough.  Crafting, sewing, preparing fun and delicious foods has filled my October free moments.  So much so, that Halloween has now arrived and I have a slew of photos from our Halloween dinner party and house decor to share – I hope they provide inspiration for future years of spooky good fun!

Halloween Dinner Party and House Decor

My prior craft/sewing cubby organizer antique thing has moved out into our living room and holds all kinds of witchy concoctions and supplies.

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

An outdoor evening dinner party.  I gathered a variety of silver-plated serving platters and chafing dishes and decorated the table with a simple sequin table runner, taper candles, and simple bat-laden tree centerpieces.  This year’s theme was “Gathering of the Witches” and it was lots of fun.  Remember last year’s Murder Mystery Halloween Dinner Party?

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Adding hurricanes, candelabras, lights around the trees, and overhead string lights completely transformed the backyard into a beautiful, warm party space.

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

I found little black twiggy trees in the dollar section at Target and cut a bazillion small bats out of black cardstock using my Cricut Maker machine.  I hot glued the bats all over the branches and popped each tree into a silver-plated coffee/tea pot with a little spanish moss.  Perfect simple, classy, and festive centerpieces.

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

What do you do when your backyard is in upheaval and you have dirt and dead patches of weeds instead of a lawn for your outdoor party?  You turn it into a graveyard!

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween Dinner Party and House Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween Dinner Party and House Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween Dinner Party and House Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween Dinner Party and House Decor

Halloween Dinner Party and House Decor

Halloween Dinner Party and House Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween House Decor and Gathering of the Witches Party Decor

Halloween Dinner Party and House Decor

Can’t wait to see what kind of spooky tricks I can gather up for next year! Happy Halloween!

Sources:

Eyeball Decor and Gold Skeleton: grandinroad.com
Black Felt Top Hat
Silver-plate Serving Pieces: various antique stores
Black Sequin Table Runner
Waterproof LED Floating Candles
Grey and Black Faux Lilies and Black Roses

Filed Under: Crafting, Halloween, Holiday Inspiration, Home Decorating, Parties Tagged With: autumn, dinner party, Halloween, halloween decor, halloween dinner party, halloween house decor, holiday decor, house decor

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

August 31, 2013 by girlinspired 59 Comments

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

If your little girls are obsessed with all things mermaid, this is THE tutorial for you.  There is just something so enticing and mysterious about mermaids and my girls could play “mermaids” for hours, how about yours?  Whether your daughter likes dress-up or she’s searching for the perfect Halloween costume, this 30-minute mermaid skirt tutorial is sure. to. please.

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

To make this mermaid skirt, you will need a stretchy knit – it looks super cute with a regular jersey knit, it can also be made with a lycra/spandex/swimsuit material for a great costume effect!  You will need just a small amount of fabric – less than a yard for most children’s sizes.  For the quickest construction, use a ruffling foot to gather the fabric for the bottom skirt ruffle and a serger to sew the three seams.  Of course, you can gather the skirt ruffle without a ruffling foot and you can sew the seams with your regular machine – and still finish in less than 30 minutes.  (be sure to use ball-point needles on your machines and a zig-zag stitch if you use a regular machine)

Are you ready?  Let’s get started!

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

You will need two measurements to make the skirt – your child’s hip measurement and the length from her waist to her ankle.  Cut one piece of fabric into a rectangle for the main skirt portion.  The width (the direction of the most stretch) should be the hip measurement – 2 inches.  The length of the rectangle should be the waist to ankle measurement – 4″.

Also cut:

a strip for ruffling that is 4″ by 2X the width of the skirt rectangle (or 2 x  hip measurement-2″)

A waistband piece that is 4″  by the width of the skirt.

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

Begin by cutting a curve along the ruffling strip and the skirt piece.  Fold the skirt in half lengthwise.  Fold the ruffling strip in half, bringing the short ends together.  Now cut a curve along the bottom (non-folded) corner of both of these pieces.  Just eyeball it so that you have a smooth curve rounding off the corners (about 4-5″ up the side of the skirt piece).

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

Now ruffle the long strip.  Feed it through your ruffling foot for super speediness.  Be sure to leave the threads long on each end of the ruffle to redistribute the gathers to fit the skirt if needed.  If you do not have a ruffling foot, stitch a long basting stitch down the length of the ruffle, pull the bobbin threads to gather the strip.  Either way, the gathered strip should be the same length now as the bottom of the skirt piece.  Match the gathered side of the ruffle strip to the bottom edge of the skirt, right sides together.  Pin in place (or don’t, just check to make sure the length is the same).  Stitch or serge the ruffle to the bottom of the skirt.  No need to hem!

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

Turn down the attached ruffle.

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

Fold the skirt in half with right sides in and match the two sides.  Stitch or serge from the top of the skirt down to where the ruffle seam is – do not stitch the two ends of the ruffle strips together.

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

Set the skirt aside for a moment and grab the waistband piece.  Match the two short ends, right sides together and stitch (or serge!!!) to form a tube.

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

Fold the tube in half along its length to form the waistband.

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

With the skirt right side out and the waistband on the outside of the skirt, match the seamline in the waistband to the center back of the skirt.  Pin the waistband to the skirt, matching raw edges (the folded edge of the waistband will be facing down toward the hem).  The waistband should be the same circumference as the skirt, but be sure that the two are pinned evenly around the whole waistband.

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

Serge together (or stitch – be sure you’re using a zigzag stitch)

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

And that is it!!  Wasn’t it quick and easy?

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

30-minute Mermaid Skirt Tutorial

Mermaid perfect in no time!

Gold and White Polka Dot Fabric can be found at Michael Levine, here.

Blue and Grey stripe knit can be found at Girl Charlee, here.

Teal knit from my local Joann.

Filed Under: Halloween, Patterns and Tutorials, Popular Posts, Sewing, sewing for girls Tagged With: costumes, Halloween, mermaid party, sewing tutorial

DIY Mummy Heads

September 17, 2012 by girlinspired 6 Comments

 If you visited me over at Katie Did It yesterday, you learned that I am feverishly working on Halloween decor for a big school fundraising event coming up in a few weeks.  Inspired by Martha Stewart’s Head Waiter Trays, I thought that DIY mummy heads would be a great, inexpensive craft to use as centerpieces for the adult dinner event.  They look awesome atop a stack of old books, on a serving tray with drinks, or sitting on a shelf.  The girls have helped me to make a few of these already and Grace has declared that she would like to take up mummy head making as a permanent career path.
Ready to make a few?
You will need:
styrofoam head (find locally at a beauty supply store for around $4-5 each or on amazon)
muslin or other lightweight fabric
coffee
glue or Mod Podge
To prepare your fabric, cut small starting slits every 1-1.5″ apart along the selvage edge of your fabric.  Tear into strips by hand.  The fabric tears easily and leaves just the slightest unraveled edge, giving you a perfect texture for those mummified heads!
 
Next, place a pile of fabric strips into a bowl and drench in coffee.  Let them soak for a few minutes, ring them out and set aside.  No need to allow them to dry.
Place the styrofoam head on a covered work surface.  I gave my heads a quick coat of antique white spray paint so any thin spots in the fabric wouldn’t show a bright white through.  This probably isn’t necessary, but if you have some paint lying around, it couldn’t hurt!
Now, make a solution of white glue or Mod Podge and water in a large bowl.  No exact measurements here.  I probably used 1/4 cup Mod Podge and 1 1/2 cups of water.  Mix well.  Dip your fabric strip into the glue solution, wipe the excess off by running the strip through your fingers, then drape the strip across the styrofoam head.
Repeat using altered directions for the strips until you have completely covered the styrofoam head to your liking.  I ran my finger along the edges of the strips when everything was in place to lift some of the frayed edges just slightly.  Set the mummy head out to dry on wax paper.  This took just a few hours in the hot, afternoon sun.  Add spiders or other creepy crawlies if you like and stage your mummy head for a fun, slightly spooky decoration.
 Have fun!

Filed Under: Crafting, Halloween, Holiday Inspiration Tagged With: Halloween, holiday decor, Mod Podge

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It is my hope that you will find inspiration on the Girl. Inspired. blog. All photos are copyright protected by Girl. Inspired. If you wish to share something that you have seen here, I am absolutely thrilled! Please use only one picture with a direct link back to the project you are referencing. Thank you so much for your understanding!

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